... I have about a week before I plan on visiting my friend in Alicante. I am wondering if I should make my way to San Sebastian and Bilbao. I haven't been to Bilbao since they opened the Guggenheim there.
Eddie, are you out there? I know you travel by bus and train everywhere. Where and how would you go? I would love to get to Santillana del Mar again...but am I crazy? Can I do this by bus and/or train?
I'm here! I'm here! And, Yes! You are crazy to be trying to do this. But if we didn't do (so called) crazy things from time to time we wouldn't have any fun at all. And yes, you can do this by bus and/or train.
The (
Continental-Auto ) buses for Santander and/or Bilbao leave from
Avda de America Intercambiador. It's about 5.5 hours to Santander. If you go by bus Madrid-Santander, try to get one that goes nonstop to Torrelavega. The others stop at Burgos for about an hour. Two years ago Continental-Auto had a 'Business Class:' I don't remember what it was called but it's the same as
ALSA\'s Supra class: free drinks & snacks. Even on the regular service there was an attendant who sells sandwiches & beer or wine - soft drinks are free. There's pretty frequent bus service between Bilbao & Santander. Last trip we took ALSA Santander to Bilbao and then the
Bus Vision tour of that city. You would probably have to day-trip on a tour bus from Santander to Santillana del Mar. We went on one that took us to
San Vicente de la barquera, Comillas & Santillana del Mar. It gave us 3 to 4-hours in Santillana del mar.
I have a brochure somewhere in my junque pile for daytrips from Santander. If I run across it I will send it to you by mail.
I also took
FEVE once Santander to Limpias to see the
Cristo de Limpias Crucifix that is said to 'bleed' from time to time. I caught a bus back by way of Laredo.
P.S.
The long haul buses are restroom equipped but the restrooms are tiny: I don't know if you and one of the girls would fit.
The reason I didn't mention San Sebastian is that it has been more than 40-years since my last visit there. I have no current info.